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“When nine kids won in the semifinals (Friday) night, it was over,” he said. “But you always worry … coming back after Christmas, seeing how everybody reacts after having a week, 10 days off. I was very pleased with the way they performed.”

Eight Lions captured individual titles, led by the meet’s outstanding wrestler, senior Christian Bowen, at 126 pounds. Goddard also recorded a second, a third and a fourth place in amassing 253.5 points. Valley Center was second with 145 and Kapaun Mount Carmel (135.50) was third.

The Lions also won last year’s Derby Invitational en route to the state title, but its margin then was 39.5 points.

Bowen’s triumph was one of the closer ones for Goddard. He won a 4-2 decision over Conner Ward of Mill Valley. Bowen took a 2-0 lead after one period but gained two more points in the final period to break a tie.

“This year has gone really good,” Bowen said. “We have the toughest practices in the state, and I think that’s why (Goddard is successful).”

Kapaun’s Nick Nece handed Goddard its only finals loss, getting a 4-2 decision over Cale Davidson at 182 in a match that went down to the wire.

“All of our kids in the matches were very competitive,” Means said. “We didn’t get blown out.”

Junior Will Spexarth began Goddard’s roll with an 11-5 victory over Kapaun’s Braden O’Donnell at 120. Spexarth pulled away from a 2-1 first-period lead with four points in the second period and five in the third.

Juniors Kameron and Kendall Frame were victorious at 145 and 152 pounds. Kameron handed El Dorado’s Dakota Motter his first loss with an 8-5 decision. Kendall scored eight points in the second period for a 14-4 decision over Frontenac’s Brandon Miekus.

Goddard also had individual titles from Garrett Lange at 138, Troy Fisher at 160, Austin Andres at 170, and Corey Atkins at 220.